As I mentioned, the pilot for Arrow was a lot better than I expected. And I’m hoping the show will keep that up tonight.
Here are five things I’d really like to see, though, because there’s always room for improvement.
Somebody In Ollie’s Life Showing Some Sort Of Interest In Him As a Person
You know, if my brother, or son, or best friend came back from five years stranded on an island speaking Russian and quoting Buddhist belief, I’d be a bit curious as to just what happened. Just a wee bit! The only person who gets a free pass here is his ex Laurel, because Ollie was A) porking her sister and B) ostensibly her sister was killed in the sinking that stranded Ollie on said island. Not caring about the way a jerk has changed is understandable.
Granted this helps the show in a way, because Ollie can do what superheroes need to do, namely disappear for a long time, and nobody will notice. But still, geez.
Way More Diggle
As we noted in the comments last episode, Diggle, Ollie’s ostensible bodyguard, got buffaloed into unconsciousness and that was the last we saw of him. As he’s a regular cast member, Ollie’s got some ‘splainin’ to do, and considering David Ramsey’s comic timing was a welcome surprise, I can’t wait to see what they do with this.
Way Less Merlin
Either give Colin Donnell more than one note to play, guys, or kill him off. By the end of the episode I was rooting for him to be impaled. By an arrow, by Vlad, by Ron Jeremy, I didn’t really care as long as he was seriously injured.
More Characterization In General
I’m hoping the show expands more on the characters, especially Ollie’s mom, the main antagonist for the overall season. The episode focuses on obscure character China White as the bad guy of the week, but I’m hoping to see a bit more of the show fleshed out.
Paul Blackthorne’s Skeptical Face
Hey, who couldn’t love this mug?
In all seriousness…
The Violence Stays At The Same Level
Ollie being willing to kill and maim gives this show a real edge. I’m hoping they don’t shy away from that.
I’ll be liveblogging it in the comments when it starts at 8. Join me, won’t you?
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I agree. I watched Arrow based on this site’s suggestion and it was good. I expect it to get cancelled in favor of NCIS: Dayton though.
And we’re up!
“Meet your biggest fan!”
His sister and his ex look way too much alike.
Boy, his mom is an awful person even counting out the whole “evil” thing.
Did you just ask a lawyer what she was doing in a courthouse? SLICK.
I think this show will feature Ollie climbing something half-naked every episode.
That takedown was very Batmanish.
I just want to point that Arrow did in one episode what Smallville couldn’t do in ten seasons: put on the costume.
HA!
Oh Snap!
Diggle getting chewed out is way funnier than it should be.
You know, somebody will eventually have to explain to Ollie’s sister that being trapped on an island for five years trumps her whiny pain.
Yay Paul Blackthorne sarcasm!
Threatening a cop! And his daughter! Smmmmmmaaaaaart!
Queen logo has billions, and a logo from the ’80s.
I like that Ollie is arguing that he’s not qualified.
Not sure why, but I really liked that part. Dudes, he DIDN’T get an MBA on the island. Jeez.
Diggle is eventually going to have to bring up that hammerlock.
No, Diggle, he’s pretty screwed up.
So your dad killed himself, and he could have survived. Man, this show loves beating Ollie with the grief.
“By who?” WHO DO YOU THINK, LADY?!
My fiancee said “Look, it’s Chinese Lady Gaga!”
I hope we don’t get island flashbacks every episode. We don’t need this show turning into Lost. Also, where’s Curtis from 24? I hope they kept him in the cast once the show got picked up.
Just saw this. I think we’ve got a formula for the first season.
Stop drooling over your brother’s abs, Thea.
I think this show has an Annoying Ball. Last episode Tommy held it. This episode Thea is holding it.
“I went to hell too!” NO YOU DIDN’T THEA SHUT THE FUCK UP.
Wow, Laurel has terrible taste in music and a crappy neighborhood.
“And now I’m just a… damaged jerk.” OK, that was pretty funny.
What the hell does Laurel do on the side to afford this apartment?
Diggle’s got moves!
I like that Starling City’s cops aren’t incompetent, just outclassed.
just watched on hulu, agree. It’s refreshing to see a super hero story with a police force that doesn’t look like the drop outs from police academy.
Can we just make this show the Diggle and Ollie Show? They just go around messing criminals up? Because that’d be awesome.
I was thinking Diggle could be Oliver’s Robin/Alfred. And I’m 100% behind that.
“You’re all I have left to live for.” And the clock just started ticking on Laurel’s ass.
I used to be a criminal like you, until I took an arrow to the nuts.
Oh, dubstep! It’s on!
Yeah, because a forced confession from a USB recorder dart is totally admissible in court!
Oliver is inspired in his hissy fits by his sister.
So China White was really more of a cameo than the central villain of the episode. I’m… actually pretty OK with that.
“Thank you for fighting for us, even though ultimately you didn’t actually achieve anything.”
Called it!
Another good episode and that was a great cliffhanger. Not so much like Lost as it is like My Name is Earl. He’s got a list and each week he’s going to cross off another name.
Yeah, I saw the cliffhanger coming but I’m still intensely curious.
Isn’t the Dark Arrow Merlyn in the comics? I know he was in an episode of Smallville as the guy who trained GA and then showed up to kill someone.
I think he is, but Merlin here is Ollie’s jerk friend.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I was expecting a “Smallville” meets “the Cape” but its looking more like “Mantis” which was underrated as a tv show.
Mantis was a good show, although seeing Gina Torres in it as the damsel is a bit weird.
Gotta say, I’m actually digging this show. I told my fiancee about it, and even though she likes comics, she’s like, “The CW? You sure?”. Now she’s into it, too. Some of the dialogue is campy and forced, but I can live with that for some of the cooler moments.
The one thing that bugs me, though: his entire disguise is a hood and a green Hamburglar mask. How is that keeping his secret identity secret?!
Not even a Kat
Not even a Kato style mask…
Number 1, not sure why they didn’t call it Green Arrow. Not like you would loose any watchers, if anything you would get a few more. Number 2, how does a billionaire who had his life threatened only have one bodyguard?!?!?!? He should have a Secret Service level group covering him. But regardless of my complaints, pretty good show lol